Press-off and hole detector for knitting machines



Sept. 5, 1944. E. VQSSEN ETAL 2,357,712

PRESS-OFF AND HOLE DETECTOR FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nbv. 10, 1943 2Sheejzs-Sheet 1 E l/INVENTORS T? DVVFIKD OSSEN WM! fg E W: J ELLERMQA/ p1944- E. VOSSEN ETAL 2,357,712

v PRES-OFF AND HOME DETECTOR FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 10, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTORNE y.

Patented Sept. 5, 1944 PRESS-OFF AND HOLE DETECTOR FOR KNITTING MACHINESEdward Vossen and Nathan J. Tellerman, Brooklyn, N.

Y., assignors to Stop-Motion Devices Corp., Brooklyn, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application November 10, 1943, Serial No.509,708

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stop motiondevices for knitting machines, and relates particularly to a press-oiland hole detector.

Knitting machines are generally equipped with stop motion devices whichindicate when one or more yarns or threads break, or when knots approachthe needles of the machines and act to stop the knitting machines beforeany damage is done. However, knitting machines are capable of knittingdefective material even though a thread is not broken or knotted.Frequently, defective needles will produce holes in the knitted materialand if the machine is not immediately stopped, large sections of theknitted material will be defective. Furthermore when a yarn snaps at acarrier immediately beend ofsaid finger when said body is in a neutralor starting position against the inner face of said tubular knittedmaterial. Friction means is provided for releasibly holding said Bodyfrom swivelling from said neutral position until said finger engages ina hole in said tubular knitted fore the needles a press-01f occurs andif the knitting machine is not immediately stopped the press-oil becomescomplete and the knitted tubular material drops oil of all the needles.This invention proposes a press-off and hole detector or detectors whichwill operate, in addition to the usual stop motion devices on theknitting machine for indicating broken and defective yarns, to detectholes in the knitted material and a press-ofi and to instantly stop theknitting machine.

The present invention is particularly intended to be used in combinationwith a tubular knitting machine having an open head (sinker top).Generally speaking, there are two types of these machines-one in whichthe head of the knitting machine rotates while the tubular knitted goodsis non-rotative, and the other in which the head remains stationary andthe tubular knitted goods is rotated during the knitting operation. Thepresent press-E and hole detector may be used with either one of thesetwo types of machines, and in fact may be used in any machine to whichit may be applied and in which there is a relative rotation between thetubular goods being knitted and some axially aligned part.

The new press-off and hole detector is characterized by a member adaptedto be connected with the axially disposed shaft of the knitting head soas-to be located within the tubular knitted material immediately belowthe knitting needles. It is proposed to swivelly mount a body on thismember to swing in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tubularknitted material, and to slidably mount a finger on said body to alsomove. in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tubular knittedmaterial. It is proposed to provide resilient means urging the outermaterial. An electric circuit for controlling the usual electriccontroller of the knitting machine connects said body and member inseries. It is proposed to provide insulation means for breaking saidelectric circuit when said body is in said neutral position. With thisconstruction the electric circuit will be instantly made when the fingerengages a hole in the knitted material and is relatively pivoted to oneside or the other of its neutral position.

This invention also proposes a construction in which said finger iscapable of making another electric circuit, for operating the'controllerof the knitting machine if said finger passes through a hole in theknitted material or through a partial press-on and touches the. metalcylinder of the knitting machine head. In this event the electriccontroller of the knitting machine will be operated even before saidbody has an opportunity to swivel from its neutral position, and thuscomplete the electric circuit mentioned. In other words, the device ofthis invention has a double action.

An important feature of the new press-oi! and hole detector resides inthe fact that the knitted material is continuously passing across andwiping the outer end of said finger during the knitting operation,resulting in a clean finger which will make a good electric contact whenengagin through a hole and touching the cylinder of the knitting machinehead. Moreover, there is also a double cleaning-action in that theknitted material is also passing across the cylinder of the knittingmachine which the finger will touch to complete said electric circuit.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the fact that thebody which carries said finger is capable of swiveling laterally, rightor left away from the tubular knitted material leaving an area free forthe knitter to work in. This makes it convenient to reach the knittingneedles when repair is required,

Still further the invention contemplates characterizing the memberpreviously mentioned which supports said swivelly mounted body by thefact that it is in the nature of a rod. It is proposed to radiallyadjustably mount said member (rod) so that it may be radially adjustedfor indirectly controlling the resilient means which urges said fingeragainst the tubular knitted material. With this construction it ispossible to readily adjust the relative tension at which the finger ispressed against the knitted material. This is of advantage when theknitted design is changed or when the yarn or threads used in knittingis varied by using heavier or lighter or different texture threads.

The invention further contemplates to make the friction means whichreleasably holds the swivelly mounted body adjustable so that thepress-off and hole detector may be set to properly operate for thevarious weights and texture of the knitted material. when lightweight orfine yarn are being knitted, a lesser tension is required than when aheavy, or coarse material is knitted.

Still further the invention contemplates using more than one press-oi!and hole detector on a knitting machine. It is proposed to arrange thesedevices at relative angular positions from each other whereby a newlyproduced hole or a just starting-press-ofi may be detected sooner.

The invention also proposes to provide a signal flag or other signal toindicate whether or, 5

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma-' terial part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a tubular knittingmachine of the open head (sinker top) type equipped withpress-ofi andhole detectors constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the press-off andhole detectors shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3 with a schematic showing of the pivotingof the body thereof and a portion of the electric circuit of the device.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line G-B of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fi 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 6.

The press-off and hole detectors, according to this invention, is usedin combination with a tubular knitting machine In of any design andconstruction having a rotating head II and cylinder i la, and a knittinghead shaft II which is disposed axially of and rotating relative to thetubular knitted material |2. The detector devices are particularlyintended for use on knitting machines generally known as the open heador sinker top" type. This type of machine generally comes in twodesigns, one in which the knitting head with shaft ll rotates'while thetubular knitted material I2 is non-rotative, and

details of the knitting machine itself will not be the other in whichthe knitting head and shaft given in this specification since they formno part of the invention.

A collar I3 is fixedly mounted on the shaft H at a location within thetop portion of the tubular knitted material l2. This collar is formedwith a plurality of radial openings l4 extended inwards from its sides.Each opening i4 is controlled by a set screw l5 by which it is possibleto adjustably mount a rod or similar element in position. A plurality ofpress-off and hole detectors l6 are shown supported radially on thecollar 3 and are operative for detecting holes in the knitted materiall2, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Each press-01f and hole detector l6 includes a member I! connected withsaid shaft and disposed within said tubular knitted material l2. Moreparticularly, the member I! is in the nature of a rod. Its inner end isengaged within one of the openings I4 and it is adjustably held inposition by the set screw l5 which controls said opening. A body I3 isswivelly connected with the member I! to swing in a plane at rightangles to the axis of the tubular knitted material |2. The body I3 isconnected with the member l1 by being swivelly mounted by a pintle screw|9 upon a bracket 20 which in turn is mounted on the member H, Thebracket 20 is insulated from the member H by an insulation tube 2|. Aset screw 22 threadedly engaged through the side of the bracket 20 andabuts the insulation tube 2| for securely holding the bracket inposition.

A finger 23 is slidably extended from the body IS in a plane at rightangles to the axis of the.

tubular knitted material |2. More specifically, the finger 23 isslidably mounted in a tubular casing 24 which in turn is fixedly mountedon the body I8. The tubular casing 24 has its ends closed with removableplates 25 and 2B. Resilient means urge the finger 23 outwards so thatits outer end, when said body I3 is in a neutral the steel ball 30towards and into a small recess 34 formed on the bottom face of the bodyl3. A screw 35 is threadedly mounted in the bottom end of the passage 3|and controls the tension of the spring 33. A lock nut 36 is mounted onthe screw .35 for looking it in adjusted positions. The bottom face ofthe body I3 is also formed with two pear-shaped recesses 31 located tothe sides of the recess 34 and arcuately of the pivot screw IQ of saidbody l3. These pear-shaped recesses 31 have shallow ends immediatelyadjacent the recess 34 and have their remote ends much deeper. Thearrangement is such that when the body I3 is pivoted right or left, thesteel mm 33 will be forced out from the recess 34 and will enter one orthe other of the pear shaped recesses 31 until a position is reached inwhich the steel ball 33 is in the deep end of the recess. This latchesthe body l8 from further turning.

The body I3 and member I! are included in an electric circuit forcontrolling the electric controller (not shown on the drawings) of theknitting machine for stopping the knitting ma end of the. member I! andsupports a contact 43 which engages 'through'an insulation tube 44mounted ithrough thebracket 20. The contact 43, as illustrated in Fig.5, engages agsmall insulation disc 45 embedded in the bottom face of thebody I8. With the parts as illustrated in Fig. the electric circuit fromthe bracket 20 andbody I8 to the member I! is incomplete.

for completing the circuit. If the finger. 23 wa pivoted right or ,left,the electric circuit of the controller of the knitting machine was alsoclosed' The circuit may now be traced by starting with the lead 40, thebracket 20,, the body I8, the contact 43 which in a pivoted position ofthe finger 23 engages thebody I8, the spring 42, 'andthe member I1 whichis also grounded to the knitting machine "1., The press-off and holedetector, in accordance withthis invention, is a very valuable additionto a knitting-machine as it will prevent the waste However, if the bodyI8 is swivelled right or left so that the insulation disc 45 moves awayfrom the contact 43, the contact 43 is free to engage the body I8 andcomplete the electric circuit. .In Figs. ,1 and 2 a plurality of thepress-off and hole detectors I6 have been illustrated connected with theshaft II' and engaging the tubular knitted material I2. The electriccables 40 oi'these detecting devices I6 connect up with a manuallyoperable switch 41 mounted on a bracket 41' which is mounted on thecollar I3. The switch 41 receives its current from a lead 58 connectedwith a collector ring 5I receiving its current from a brush 52 of asupply line 53. The switch 41 is provided with a signal fiag 54 which isin a vertical position when the switch is on and which is in ahorizontal position, illustrated by the dot and dash lines 54', when theswitch is off. This provides a visual indicator indicating Whether thecircuit to the pressoil and hole. detector devices is on or oil. Othertypes of signals may be substituted, if desired.

The operation of the device is as follows:

During the operation of the knitting machine III, the knitting headshaft II is turning relative to the tubular knitted material I2 which inthe knitting machine I0 illustrated on the drawings is non-rotative.This causes the tubular knitted material I2 to relatively continuouslymove across the outer ends of the fingers 23 of the press-01f and holedetector devices I6. When a hole or the start of a press-oil? comesalong in the knitted material I2 and reaches the outer end of one of thefingers 23 one of two things may happen. The finger 23 may extendthrough the hole or press-off and touch the adjacent cylinder I la ofthe knitting machine III, or the finger 23 may be forced laterally inone direction or the other, depending upon the relative turning of theshaft II and knitted tubular material I2. In that type of tubularknitting machine in which the knitting head is stationary, the finger 23will be pivoted in one direction, and when the press-off and holedetector I6 is used on that type of knitting machine in which theknitting head is rotative, the finger 23 will be pivoted in the otherdirection.

When the finger 23 projected through a hole or the start of a press-offin the knitted material of knitting time and knitting material. Often aneedle becomes'defective on a. knitting machine and the knitted goods isknitted with holes. Even if the needle corrects-itself, and one smallhole is produced, it is an advantage to have a hole detector stop theknitting machine in that the operator may note that there is some defectwhich may cause periodic holes. The operator may make suitablecorrection. A press-ofl .usuallyoccurs when. the fuzz of the yarnproduces a slub in the yarn guide holeat the carrier imme- I2 andtouched said cylinder IIa of the knitting and the knitting machine whichacts as a ground diately to the front of the needles, and the yarnsticks in the guide hole and breaks between the reviewed. Because thetubular knitted-material I2 is moving continuously across and relativeto the outer ends of the fingers 23, the fingers will be kept clean sothat they may make good electric contact. Moreover, since the tubularknitted material I2 is moving down across the cylinder IIa of theknitting machine I8, this portion will be continuously wiped so that itis clean and may cooperate with the clean fingers 23 for making -theelectric current which controls the electric controller of the knittingmachine. Another feature of the detector means resides in the fact thatthe bodies I8 may be swivelled right. or left so that the fingers 23 arecorrespondingly turned and are moved away from the vicinity of theknitting needles of the knitting machine which are then exposed and maybe replaced or repaired as required. Additional features of each holedetector device reside in the adjustability of the frictional holdingand releasing means of the body I8 which is characterized by the steelball 30 and regulating spring 33. This adjustability is useful inregulating the press-oil and hole detector action to different weightsand textures of knitted materials. Each member I1 of each hole detectormay be radially adjusted by loosening the set screw I5 and moving thememher I! inwards or outwards. This is useful in controlling the tensionat which the spring 21 of the hole detector It will engage the finger 23against the tubular knitted material I2. Adjustment is made fordifferent weights, and textures of knitted material. The signal fiag 54is useful in indicating tothe operator whether the hole detector devicesare on.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure byUnited States Letters Patent is: ls

1. In combination with'a tubular knitting machine having a knitting headdisposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular. knitted material, a finger slidablyextended from said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of saidtubular knitted material, resilient means uring the outer end of saidfinger when said body is in a neutral position against the inner face ofsaid tubular knitted material, friction means for releasably holdingsaid body from swivelling from said neutral position until said fingerengages in a hole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuitfor controlling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insula- :5 tion means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition.

2. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a fknittinghead shaft disposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubularknitted material, a member connected with said shaft and disposed withinsaidtubular knitted material immediately below the knitting needles,

a body swivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at rightangles to the axis or said tubular knitted material, a finger slidablyextended from said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of saidtubular knitted material, resilient means'urging the outer end of saidfinger when said body is in a neutral position 40 against the inner faceof said tubular knitted material, friction means for releasably holdingsaid body from swivellinlg from said neutral pustion until said finger egage's in a hole in said tubular knitted material, an electriecireuitfor controlling the electric controller 0t said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, insulation means for breakingsaid electric circuit when said body is in said neutral position, acollar fixedly mounted on said shaft and having a radial opening, a setscrew for 6011-, trolling said radial opening, and said member being inthe nature of a rod adjastably mounted in said radial opening.

3. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knitting headdisposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material, immediately below the knitting needles, abody, .00 swivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane atright angles to the axis of said tubular knitted material, a fingerslidably extended from said body in a plane at right angles to the axisof said tubular knitted material, resilient means urging the outer endof said finger when said body is in a neutral position against the innerface of said tubular knitted material, friction means for releasablyholding said body from swivelling from said neutral position until saidfinger engages in a hole in .said tubular knitted material, an electriccircuit for controlling the electric controller of said knitting machineand connecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric cir- 7s cuit when said body is in said neutralposition, the swivel connection of said body with said member comprisinga bracket mounted on said member, and a pintle screw swivelly holdingsaid body on said bracket.

t 4. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knittinghead disposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterlal, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material immediately below the knitting needles, 0. bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the axis or said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end 01' said fingerwhen said body is in a neutral position against the inner face of saidtubular knitted material, friction means for releasibly holding saidbody from swivelling from said neutral position until said fingerengages in a hole in said tubular knitted material an electric circuitfor controlling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, said finger being slidably extended from said body by slidablyengaging within a: tubular casing mounted on said body.

5. In combination-with a tubular knitting machine having a knitting headdisposed axially or and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubularknltted material im mediately below the knitting needles, 9. bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis or said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tubularknitted material, re-

silient means urging the outer end or said finger when said body is in aneutral position against the inner face or said tubular knittedmaterial, friction means forreleasing holding said body from swivellingfrom said neutral position until said finger engages in a hole in saidtubular knitted material, an electric circuit for controlling theelectric controller of said knitting machine and connecting said bodyand member in series, and insulation means for breaking said electriccircuit when said body is in said neutral position, said finger beingsliadbly extended from said body by slidably engaging within a tubularcasing mounted on said body, and said resilient means for urging theouter end 'of said finger against said knitted material comprising aspring within said tubular casing and connected with the inner end ofsaid finger and connected with said tubular casing.

6. ,In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knittinghead disposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material, immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axispf said'tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the means urging the outerendot said finger when said body is in a neutral position against theinner face of said tubular knitted material, fricaxis of said tubularknitted material, resilient tion means for releasably holding said bodyfrom tension of the resilient means acting against said steel ball.

swivelling from said neutral position until said finger engages in ahole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuit forcontrolling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition,

the swivel connection of said body with said material, a memberconnected with said head and disposed within said tubular knittedmaterial, immediately below the knitting needles, a body swivellyconnected with said member to swing in a plane at right angles to theaxis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably e tended fromsaid body in a plane at right a 'gles to the axis of said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end of said fingerwhen said body is in a neutral position against the inner face of saidtubular knittedmaterial, friction means for releasably holding said bodyfrom swivelling from said neutral position until said finger engages ina hole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuit forcontrolling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, the swivel connection of said body with said member comprisinga bracket mounted on said member, and a pintle screw swivelly holdingsaid body on said bracket, said friction means including a steel ballmounted in a passage in said bracket, and resilient means urging saidsteel ball against said body, said body being formed with a small recessinto which a portion of said steel ball engages.

8. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knitting headdisposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittingmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material, immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end of said fingerwhen said body is in a neutral position against the inner face of saidtubular knitted material, friction means for releasably holding saidbody from swivelling from said neutral position until said fingerengages in a hole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuitfor controlling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, the swivel connection of said body with said member comprisinga bracket" mounted on said member, and a pintle screwswivelly holdingsaid body on said bracket, said friction means including a steel ballmounted in a passage in said bracket, and resilient means urging saidsteel ball against said body, and" means for adjusting the 9. Incombination with a tubular knitting machine having a knitting headdisposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittingmaterial, a. member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material, immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end of said fingerwhen of and rotating relative to the tubular knitted said body is in aneutral position against the inner face of said tubular knitted.material, friction means for releasably holding said body fromswivelling from said neutral position until said finger engages in ahole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuit forcontrolling the electric controller'of said knitting machine andconnecting saidbody and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, the swivel connection of said body with said member comprisinga bracket mounted on said member, and a pintle screw swivelly holdingsaid body on said bracket,

said friction means including a steel ball mounted in a passage in saidbracket, and resilient means urging said steel ball against said body,said body being formed with a small recess into which a portion of saidsteel ball engages, said body being also formed with recesses to thesides of the recess engaged by said steel ball for limiting pivoting ofthe body.

10. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knittinghead disposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material, immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom 7 said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end of said fingerwhen said body is in a neutral position against the inner face of saidtubular knitted material, friction means for releasably holding saidbody from swivelling from said neutral position until said fingerengages in a hole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuitfor controlling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, the swivel connection of said body with said member comprisinga bracket mounted on said member, and a pintle screw swivelly holdingsaid body on said bracket, said member being insulated from saidbracket, and said electric circuit including a spring connected withsaid member and supporting a contact slidably engaged through aninsulation tube mounted through said bracket, said contact being urgedtowards and against said body, and said insulation means including adisc mounted on said body at a point engaged by said contact when saidbody is in said neutral position. a

11. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knittinghead disposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the axis of said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end of said fingerwhen said body is in a neutral position against the inner face of saidtubular knitted material, friction means for releasably holding saidbody from swivelling from said neutral position until said fingerengages in a hole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuitfor controlling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, and said finger being in the nature of a contact to close acontroller circuit as said finger passes through a press-off or hole insaid knitted material and touches a metal part of said knitting machinefor stopping said knitting machine.

12. In combination with a tubular knitting machine having a knittinghead disposed axially of and rotating relative to the tubular knittedmaterial, a member connected with said head and disposed within saidtubular knitted material immediately below the knitting needles, a bodyswivelly connected with said member to swing in a plane at right anglesto the axis of said tubular knitted material, a finger slidably extendedfrom said body in a plane at right angles to the axis 01' said tubularknitted material, resilient means urging the outer end of said fingerwhen said body is in a neutral position against the inner face of saidtubular knitted material, friction means for releasably holding saidbody from swivelling from said neutral position until said fingerengages in a hole in said tubular knitted material, an electric circuitfor controlling the electric controller of said knitting machine andconnecting said body and member in series, and insulation means forbreaking said electric circuit when said body is in said neutralposition, said electric circuit including signal means to indicate whensaid hole indicator is on for operation.

EDWARD VOSSEN. NATHAN J TELLERMAN.

